Saumya Sharma is an inspiring person in the field of civil services in India. Even though she faced many difficulties, she succeeded in passing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam on her first attempt.
Her ranking of 9 in 2018 showed how exceptional she is.
What sets Saumya apart is not just her great achievement, but the journey she took to get there. She has been deaf since she was 16, but she didn’t let that stop her from chasing her dreams. While many people might give up when faced with such challenges, Saumya stayed determined.
Saumya’s strong academic prowess were evident from her early years, securing her a sought-after place at the renowned National Law School. In 2017, she made the choice to follow her aspiration of working for the country through civil services. Despite having just four months to get ready for the UPSC exam, Saumya enthusiastically immersed herself in her studies.
What further distinguishes Saumya’s accomplishment is her choice not to use special assistance for people with disabilities. Instead, she chose to compete in the general category, showing her dedication to fairness based on merit.
Her path to success wasn’t smooth sailing. Despite facing severe illness during the main exam, Saumya refused to give up. She demonstrated tremendous resilience by showing up to take the UPSC exam despite being bedridden with a high fever.
Today, Saumya Sharma works in the Maharashtra cadre as an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer. Her commitment to public service is highlighted by her current position as the CEO of the Nagpur Zilla Parishad. In addition to her career achievements, she has a significant following on social media, with over 250K Instagram followers.
Adding another dimension to her narrative, Saumya is married to IPS officer Archit Chandak, who presently holds the position of Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nagpur.